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Regional Reviews: San Francisco Lanford Wilson's Fifth of July Also see Richard's reviews of The Way West, Mirandolina! Mistress of a Tuscan Inn and Antigonick
I hadn't seen this remarkable play since 1981 when I saw Richard Thomas, Jeff Daniels, and Swoosie Kurtz recreate the Talley family from age 13 to 62 on the sage. Fifth of July takes place on the family farm near Lebanon, Missouri, on Independence Day weekend in 1977. There is Ken Talley (Craig Marker), a bitter Vietnam veteran who lost the use of his legs and lives with his sister June (Jennifer Le Blanc). She is a disillusioned former bomb-throwing radical. Living there also is June's illegitimate daughter Shirley (Oceana Ortiz), who is full of youthful idealism; Ken's lover Jed (Josh Schell), a botanist who is planting an English style garden; and Ken and June's Aunt Sally (Elizabeth Benedict), a slightly peculiar widow who carries the box of ashes of her late husband everywhere. Gwen (Nanci Zoppi) and John Landis (John Girot) are guests of Ken and Jed. Gwen wants to be a great rock singer like Janis Joplin while her husband is a wheeler-dealer promoting his wife. Rounding out the group is Weston, Gwen's perpetually stoned-out childlike guitarist. The characters interact with each other and converse on a variety of themes and issues of the day, including the inheritance of the '60s antiwar movement and the advantages and disadvantages of sexual-testing perception-altering drug involvements. Tom Ross has assembled a brilliant cast of fine actors to present this two hour 25 minute performance. Craig Marker gives a splendid performance as the disabled Kenneth. He skillfully dodders between skeptical weariness and a vague aspiration to continue teaching handicapped children. He is the play's protagonist. As Gwen, Nanci Zoppi gives an excellent performance of an overactive ditzy person who delivers wonderful wisecracks throughout the play. John Girot underplays the role of Gwen's husband John beautifully. Outstanding is 13-year-old Ocean Ortiz who exquisitely plays young Shirley, an intelligent, brat of a 13 year old. Elizabeth Benedict gives a charming performance as the widow Sally who is unwilling to dispose of her late husband's ashes in the garden. Josh Schell as Ken's quiet lover underplays nicely to the showier role of Ken. Jennifer Le Blanc gives a vivid performance as June the militant sister of Ken. Harold Pierce nicely plays the guitarist Weston. Tom Ross' direction is sharp and he makes good, sensitive choices around Richard Olmsted's detailed set and Heidi Leigh Hanson's well-designed 1970s costumes. Fifth of July plays through May 17th, 2015, at the Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison Street, Berkeley. For tickets please call 510-843-4822 or visit www.auroratheatre.org. Coming up next is Lisa D'Amour's Detroit opening on June 19TH and running through July 19th.
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